Steering-wheel rim



April 21, 1931.

F. c. McMANus 1,801,283

STEERING WHEEL RIM Filed NOV- 14%, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l '-3 if l* u-, 5L@ l .'n Fmg INVENTOR l BY ErxlnluZT/SEM /Z A TTORNEYfS' April 21, 1931.

Filed NOV. 14. 1929 F. C. MCMANUS STEERING WHEEL RIM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Emili ff/anni, BY l l@ www ATTORNEYS Patented pr. 21, 1.931'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK C. MCMAN'US, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A`CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STEERING-WHEEL RIM Application led November 14,1929. VSerial No. 407,058.

The present invention relates to steering mechanisms and embodies, morespecifically, an improved steering wheel rim mounted upon a spider, orsupporting member, in such manner that shocks and vibrations from thesteering column, incident to movement of the vehicle over irregularitiesin road surface, will not be transmitted to the steering wheel rim andthe hands of the driver of the vehicle.

With a view to eliminating, or reducing to a minimum, the vibrationstransmitted to the steering wheel rim, various cushioning devices havebeen devised, certain forms thereof embodying cushioning elements in theconnections between the drag link, tie rod, and steering arm of thesteering mechanism. Since the movement of the steering column isconsiderably ampliiied in the steering wheel rim, very slight vibrationsthereof will ,be quite noticeable and objectionable in the rimregardless of the precaution taken in the steering mechanism toeliminate such vibrations, and the present invention seeks to cushion,materially, such movement before 1t is transmitted to the hands of theoperator.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a cushioningmechanism for the steering rim of a vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a cushioning mechanismmounted between the supporting spider carried by the steering column andthe steering wheel rim mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning mechanismof the above character in which the parts thereof are simple inconstruction and easily manufactured and assembled.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparentwhen the invention is described in greater detail in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a segmental plan View in sec tion, taken on line l-l ofFigure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure l, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, andlooking in the direction of the arrows. l

'Figure 4 is a view in section, similar to Figure l, and taken on line4`4 of Figure 5, this view illustrating a modified form of connection.

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, andlooking in the direction 8*.8 of Figure 7 and looking in the direci tionof the arrows.

Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 9 -9 of Figure 7, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the above larly F gures l, 2, and 3, a indicates one ofthediverging arms of a steering wheel spider. This arm is formed with anenlarged portion a having parallel flanges a2. y

The steering wheel rim is indicated at b and is formed of two sectionsb. These sections are secured together by means of bolts b2 and opposedconcavities b3 are formed in the respective sections o to provide arecess of. The rim is formed with an opening b5 within which the end ofthe arm a extends, and ablock of yielding non-metallic material c iscarried within the recess b4 and surrounds the `enlargrged portion a andflanges z2 of the arm a.

From the above, it will be seen that relative movement between the arm aand rim o is cushioned by means of the block of yielding non-metallicmaterial o, thereby effectively cushioning the vibrations transmitted tothe drivers hands.

In the construction shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the steering wheel rimis formed of a plurality of arcuate sections cl assembled upon shafts dwhich are concentric with the arcuate rim Sections d. A flange d2 isformed drawings, particut upon each shaft section d, and a block ofyielding non-metallic material e is spaced between the arcuate sectionsd and about the appropriate shaft al and flange d2. Y

The blocks of yielding non-metallic material are formed with peripheralgrooves e and the arm a has secured to the extremity thereof,a'housingf. This housing is formed with inwardly extending ribs f to engage theperipheral vgrooves ev and is secured .to the arm a by meansofasuitable.bolt L7. It will be seen from an inspection of Figure l that thehousing doesnot extend completely between adjacent arcuatel sections d.In this` manner, relative movement between the housing and varcuatesections is accommodated, such movement being yieldingly opposed Vby theVblock of yielding nonfmetallic mate rial e; Y Y g In the `constructionshown in Figures` 7, 8,

i and 9,'the arm a of the steering wheel spider fore, affords theyielding vconnection described in the construction `shown in Figuresmeans mounted between the segments and engaging the flanges, and meansto mount the arms on the cushioning means. Y

7th day of This specification signed this November, A. D. 1929.

FRANK C. MOMANUS.

l, 2, and 3, kthe character ofthe rim being v modified from theconstruction of such figures. v

`While the invention has been described with specic referenceV to theaccompanying drawings, it is not to :be limited, save as defined in theappended claims. I claim as my invention:

. 1, A steering wheel .comprisinga spiderV having kdiverging arms, aplurality of rim segments, connecting shafts betweenthe segments,flanges on the shafts, cushioning means mounted between thesegments andengaging the lfia-nges, sleeves carried by the arms, circumferentialgrooves in the cushioning means, .and ribs in the sleeves engaging thegrooves.

2. A steering wheel comprising a' spider having diverging arms, aplurality of rimvr segments,lconnecting shafts between .the segments,flanges -on ythe shafts, Acushioning meansmountedbetween the segmentsandengaging the fianges, sleeves carried by the A arms, and means tosecure the sleeves to the cushioning means.

3. Asteering wheel comprising a spider havingdiverging arms, apluralityof rim segments, connecting shafts between the segments, anges on theshafts, cushieningy

